With Gov. Spitzer's proposal to issue driver's licenses to illegal aliens, immigration has been a hot topic of late. But concern over immigration has nothing to do with driver's licenses and everything to do with drugs and terrorism.

Eager to eradicate the possibility of either, post 9/11 society has directed its attention to homeland security, specifically the southern border. Yet you don't seem to hear about efforts to improve the northern border. Surprising, considering that the northern borders are much closer to New York City and Washington D.C., prime terrorist targets.

People may ignore the northern border because Americans and Canadians share a common culture, whereas Mexican culture is comparatively foreign. But cultural prejudice shouldn't cloud judgment.

Southern immigration consists primarily of Mexicans who seek illegal employment at a higher wage than their country can provide. Their agenda is to escape poor economic conditions. But the problem at the northern border is very different.

Geographically, large bodies of water, forests and swamplands line the northern border. Although checkpoints are heavily guarded, the crime is more varied and less predictable than along the southern border. Fugitives are detained and drug smugglers are frequently arrested. But loads of marijuana still enters the U.S. over Buffalo's Peace Bridge and millions of tax-free cigarettes come to New York through Adirondack Park.

Stationing guards along the southern border makes sense where illegal immigration is a day-to-day problem. Less frequent crime along the northern border makes constant patrolling impractical, leaving New York exposed to drugs and terrorist activity.

What is the solution? A world without drugs, crime or corruption would certainly be nice.

More immediately, America needs to invest in a better line of defense in general, rather than focusing solely on the southern border. Granted, more than 90 percent of illegal immigrants come through the south, but 500 men looking for work are less threatening than one man with a bomb strapped to his chest.

Using our military at home, as a line of defense rather than a line of attack, would create jobs, justify military spending, and improve homeland security. Of course there will always be evil people in the world. But I would happily pay a salary position, if only to catch one such person a year.

Bottom line: America has spent the last decade policing the world. It's time to bring the focus back home.

Estabrook's column appears Mondays in The Citizen and she can be reached at estabrookcarole@yahoo.com